KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. has been awarded a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) financial grant in the amount of $443,145 to expand its reach to service members at the time of transition. The grant will be applied to the VFW’s Pre-Discharge claims program, which offers free assistance on military installations across the country to transitioning service members and veterans in filing VA claims, and understanding the benefits available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“One of the VFW’s top priorities is ensuring our returning military service personnel receive the benefits they’ve earned,” said VFW National Commander Keith E. Harman, a retired county veterans’ service officer. “We’re thankful for the continued support shown by Wounded Warrior Project. With 24 Pre-Discharge claims offices across the country, this grant helps ensure the VFW is able to continue to provide the guidance and assistance our transitioning service members deserve.”

Today’s grant announcement was made by WWP’s Senior Vice President of Government & Community Relations René Bardorf during the VFW’s semi-annual service officer training in Annapolis, Md. To date, the organization has provided grants totaling more than $1.4 million to support VFW services, helping double WWP’s capacity to provide benefits claims processing to post-9/11 service members and veterans.

“While WWP has many outstanding direct programs serving needs of warriors and their families, we alone cannot meet every need. It requires collaboration with forward-thinking organizations, like VFW, that are deeply invested in the livelihood of veterans and their families,” said René Bardorf, WWP senior vice president of government and community relations. “We know the time of transition can be difficult, and we’re proud to work with VFW to reach those service members at this important stage in their lives. Together, we can be force multipliers that can reduce the number of barriers in what can be a challenging life transition, and provide access to the benefits and services they have earned.”

The VFW Pre-Discharge claims program’s proven history of guiding military personnel through the complex VA claims process makes it well-deserving of such a large charitable investment. In 2016, VFW representatives on military installations helped file nearly 15,400 VA claims for transitioning service members and veterans. However, the VFW’s work on military installations is only the starting point for the lifetime of advocacy provided by the VFW’s global network of accredited claims representatives who stand ready to assist long after military service. In 2017 alone, VA reports that all veterans and eligible dependents represented by the VFW received nearly $7.7 billion in earned benefits.

WWP grants provide a network of comprehensive supportive services that meet the varying needs of warriors and family members. The organization places a priority on working with others to harness subject matter expertise to reach a greater number of service members, veterans and their families.